Irrigation device



July 12, 1932. w. H. COLES ET AL IRRIGATION DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1927.2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WM m

ATTORNEYS.

July 12, 1932. w. H. COLES ET AL IRRIGATION DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR.

Mow

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES rsszzse PATENT oF icE WALTER 11.cores AND BERT J. NELSON, or TROY, 01110, ASSIGNORS To THE SKINNERIRRIGATION COMPANY, or racy, onio, A CORPORATION or OHIO IRRIVGA'IIQONDEVICE Application filed December 14, 1927. Serial No. 239,930.

This invention relates to water sprinklers and more particularly toautomatic oscillators adapted to be used in the distribution ofirrigation water or the like.

One object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved-sprinkleror irrigation system comprising an elongated sprinkler member andmotor-operated means for effecting oscillation thereofj Another objectof the invention is the pro-' vision of an automatic oscillatorfor suchirrigation systems comprising a fluidxmotor,

having a casing adapted to be held in fixed position and provided withan exhaust nozzle which is automatically moved during the 'operation ofthe fluid motor to distribute the discharge fluid of the motor.

A further obj ectof the invention isthe provision of a fluid motorforirrigation s'ys- I terns having means for causing full immediateoperation of the valves to insure the reversal of the direction ofmotion of the-piston at the proper time in the cycle of operaoscillatorembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of an irrigation systion embodying the automaticoscillator shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3

exhaust nozzle Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the fluid motoron the line 4% of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the ratchet segment and the backlashattachment.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, theautomaticoscillator shown in Fig. 1 comprises a. fluid motor designatedgenerally which is mounted rigidly upon a union 11. by means of a nippleconnection 12. The union 11 is mounted on a short pipe 13 fastened to aglobe valve 14 which is shown connected by a nipple 15 and elbow 16 to ariser pipe 17 through which irrigating water or the like is a rearelevation of a fragment of the osclllator motor showing the swinging maybe supplied. The various pipes and 0011-.

nections. mentioned form a part of the statlonary end of anirrigationline, and the. union 11 is connected'to the end of a sprinklerordistributing-pipe line 20. This pipe line 20 is provided with suitablespray nozzles or discharge openings 21 through which streams or spraysof irrigating water may pass, and the pipe line 20 ispreferably a longstraight line of piping "supportedon posts or hangers 22 arranged alongthe length of the piping so that the latter. may be rocked or oscillatedback and forth by the fluid motor to effect the proper distribution ofthe irri gating streams, .overa considerable expanse of ground I 7 Thewater motor 10 has the piston thereof operably connected to areciprocating device designated generally 23 and thelatter'is 7U adaptedto be moved backand forth as the plston reciprocates in a mannertobe'later fiki described. The reciprocating device 23 care ries a pinor lug 25 which is receivedin a bifurcation infthe upper end of aratchet-lever 24, this lever being pivoted at its lower end on a bolt-103 which is fixed to a stationary base member 104:. of the structure.The le ver724 is provided with a'ratchet dog 26 pivotally mountedthereon between. the pivot support and the operatingpin 25, thisdogbeing adapted to engage in a series of notches 27 of a'ratchetsegment 28. The force exertv ed on the ratchet segment is of course proportionately greater than that exerted by the pin 25 due totherelativediflerences in the lever arms or distances from the pivot at thelower end of the lever 24, and as the notched periphery of the segmentis at a distance from the, pipe 20'substantially exceeding the eifec-'tive lever arm 'of, the ratchet lever 26 the force effective in turningthe'pi-pe line is proportionately multiplied. Thesegment. 28 is by meansof the clamp bolts 31 and the clamp cap 32. .The distributing pipe. isthus caused to move slowly about'its'own axis, being.

guided at various points by thehangers or posts21, asthe ratchetidog 26oscillates back and forth and moves the ratchet segment along step bystep.

. 'The ratchet segment 28 is provided with a series of transverse holes35 and two reversing pins 36 and 37 are rece ved 1n two of these holes,these pins being removable so that r they may be inserted in the properhole as dc sired. The pins project considerably beyond the side faces ofthe ratchet segment, extending from t-heside of the segment toward themotor farenough to engage'the inclined side of the reversing dog at adistance above the pivot axis ofthe latter, so that it causes thereversal ofthe ratchet dog 26hy engaging therewith when the distributingpipe has been turned in one-direction as fares it is intended to go, theend of the reversing pin at'this time c'ausingthe dog 26 to flip over Iso that succeeding oscillatorymovements-of the lever 24 will elfectivethrough the' dog 26 in'movingthe ratchet segment in "the oppositedirection. Tlhe other reversing -pin' will then be engaged by thedeg'26,at which time the dog 1 'Will again be reversed; The distributingpipjewillthertefore be oscillate'd ha-ck and forth periodically during thevoperation of the fluidhmt or, and the amount of angular movementvvhic-his given to the distributing pipe "may be adjusted toany value desiredbyplacing thereve rs ing pins in the proper holes in thei'atclietsegment;r The posit-ion of the movement as Well as the amount-ofmovementimparted "to the dis't'ribsti g pi pe -carrb'e regulatedthrough the'posi' tio'ning'of the reversin pins; and-it -Willbe understoodthatthe.eistribati ginezzles on the distributing pipe 'c'an fthus becaused'to Waterthe g-r'oimd' at one'side of tlie 'pi pe only ifdesiredand can be moved throughas great i a or a-s small a' degreef of motionfaj'sfdesired;

In order to prevent backlash o'it'xthe distribi 1 utin'g l-ine from.interfering with tli'e' reversal of the direction of movement of theratchet segment and of the line, a backlash attach- 'ment i-s'provided.For this purpose a plate 7 40 is attached in po'siti'onto the lowerportion i ofthe motonthe plate being located closely adj acen'tthe rearfaceof the ratchet-segment;

' The ratchet segment -forms a'supp'ort {for a casting ztiwithin whichis a spring 43 pressl ng atone end against anadjustment nut 42ing-locki'ngcennection between-the fluid mo and at its other endagainsta plunger lwhich has ash'arp nose pro ecting rear-ward l-ythrough the ratchet segment and engaging the roughened or serratedsurface ott he plate 40'. i This arrangement provides for'afyieldl torand the distributing fpipe so that' any backlashwvliich may be presentthe pipe v line 'is'not efi'ective in"'interfering with the properstep-by-step movements and the reversal of direction off travel of "theratchet segment! The force of "engagement of'ithe spring-pressednosev'v'ith the-serrated pl'ate 40 "may be adjusted byturnihg the hexag sureon "the spraying line. i .nipu'lation of the val've "50 the-speed ofre-;

terv to flow from the riser pipe 17 through thenglobe valve 14 to theinterior of the Water motor and also along the distributing line 20. TheWater, motor being'th'us supplied with power causes the periodicreciprocation of the reciprocating "member 23,- the exhaust or"discharge Water from the motor flowing out througha discharge-orifice46' This discharge orifice i6 is provided on the side of theWater-motor. and is mounted in place on an oscillating armf47 whichisbifurciated at 48 so aste engage orxstraddle an operating pin lflprovided on the rear;

side oi' the reciprocating ineniber=23l The opening of the ,tlu'id motorso sthat thewa'ter i Wlllcli is eflective in. causing theoperationof themotor may be dlscharged'through' the passage inthe arm 47'and-out-;throughthe I CllSChflIfgQllOZ ZlfiQG. The pipe 4'6 serves-asconnection at the loweriend the oscillating arm 47 Withthereciprocatingmember-ofthe device, it'ivill be' -seen that the exhaustnoz zle is oscillated back "and fortl1r1 11 accordance V with thereciprocatingJnovements of the member 23, and the dischargeorexhaust'water flowing from the fluid2mbtor-is distrib uted and =d1sohargedi n astreani-Wlnoh 1s dia v rected first to one side of the motor and' thento the other so that puddlingfrom Waste Water is avoided. j c

Inorder to control the speed-of operation of the motor the exhaust arm47 is provided with a valve effective in controllingthe rate offlowithroughthe exhaust nozzle. The

meet fio'iv is adjusted to vary the speed ofv the motor by means of amanuallygoperahle 7 needle val-ve' regulator 50 which may be screwedinto a threaded I opening in the mem ber 47 varying amounts to cause 'agreater or lesser restriction in the exhaust passage from'the motor, Thefiuid' mo'tor Whichhas a large--ti ii"ning povvendevelopedfrom theleverage ratio employed, itself operates thoughout the operating rangeupon such a" small @portion of the Water available that thereis-noobjectionable reduction of pres- By proper maa ciprocation of themotor piston' mayf'be'va ri'ed and so the ratie oof t'ravel ofthetlog26. v

side of the arm 47 Which is adjacent to the 9 fluid motor is providedwith apipe'or pas sage 46 communicating w th the"'clischarge By closingolf the valve the fluid motor can be entirely stoppedsothat the sprayingstreams from the distributing pipe may continue with-ful force with thedistributing pipe stationary. a

The detailed construction of thefimd motor which is preferably used isshown in Fig; 4. As shownin that figure, the fiuld' motor comprises abody chamber ,52formed of two cylinders 58 and 54- whichare threaded atboth ends, the inner ends being received in a central rmg member 55,-andthe outer-ends being threaded in the end-plates 56 and 57 respectively.The central 1 member 55. is

3; formed as a casting providedwith an inlet chamber 60 and a separateoutlet chamber 61, the inlet chamber being in unrestricted communicationby means of an opening in a piston and a valve-operating part.

the lower portion thereof with theinterior' of the nipple 12 by whichitis'fastenedin place. The exhaust chamber 61 communicates withthe passageprovided in the swing ing exhaust arm 47. Valve seats 62, 6 3, 64 and 65are mounted in the opposing .walls of :1 the casting 55 to receive aninlet-valve member 66 and anexhaust-valve member 67 .The

inlet-valve member 66 extends through and is centered and guidedwithinthe openings provided in the valve seats 64 and 65 and be-= I: tweenthese valve seats is a valve enlargement68 on the valve member-which isadapted to close'the inlet opening into the cylin-' der 53 or' thecylinder 54 alternately, it being understood that the shape of the valvemember66 is such as topermit a flow of liq: uid from thechamber 60through the valve which is open at the time, although some portions ofthe valve member are slldingly guided'onthe valve seatstomaintain theparts in alignment, The exhaust-valve member 67 is provided with a bodypart 7 O which is guided and centered in the valve seats 62 and 63 andhasvalve enlargements at each end, the .body part having irregularnoncylindrical surfaces so that when one of the bodies a flexible memberor cup leather 73 clamped between the two plates-74 and 7 5 which areboth threaded on a piston-rod 76. This piston-rodextends throughtheendplate 56 and is fastened rigidly to acrossbar 77 by means of aset-screw 78. This cross-bar77 is rigidly attached to two longitudinallyextending straps 79 and 80 which are located on opposite sides of thecylinder body, and which are connected at their other ends at pointsspaced from the end-plate '57 to as i-milar cross member 81, similarlyconwhich ispositioned within the opposite cylinder 54,it'beingunderstood that similar construction obtains at opposite ends'of themotor, these several members when connected:

together constituting the reciprocating device or frame 23. It will beapparent that as water flows, forexample, into the cylinder 54 to movethe piston 83 downwardly in;

Fig. 4, the reciprocating device comprising the straps 79 and 80, thecross members 77 and 81 and the piston connections,*will be movedendwise with relation to the cylindricalbody of the motor, the exhaustwater from the cylinder 53 passing out through'the opene-xhaustva'lve-into the exhaust-chamber 61 and from there it'will beexhausted through the exhaust or discharge nozzle previously described.i "f 1 The operation of the valves of the motor is such as to cause themto be quickly moved from one operative positionto the other toinsure-the proper periodic reciprocation of ,theplston and to secure afull immediate or instantaneous action; For this purpose the piston73-is provided with a valve-operating plate which is mounted on the endofa valve and :86, this valverod extending projecting fromthe rear endof the pistonrod where it is attachedrigidly to a valve block 87 bymeans of a fasteningscrew 88.

nected tothe piston-rod 82 of'the: piston 83" through an opening in thepiston-rod and This valve block 87 normally abuts against the outer sideof'the cross-bar 7 7 'and isheld in this position by'a helical spring 89provided within the piston-rod which engagesj apacking gland 90,cooperating with suitable packing 101, on the inside of thepiston-ro'd,

and which presses at its other endagainst a shoulder 91 on the valverod. The outer end ofthe piston ,r'od encloses a bushing 102 whichguides the valve rod and retain; the packing 101, the bushing beingbra'zed'or pinned or otherwise fixed to the piston'rod. The normalrelation and spacing between the valve plate 85" and the: piston is as"shown in Fig; '4 except when the piston is closely adjacent the'valVes.After the piston ha's".

been moved inwardly within thelcylinder to a point where it is close tothe end of its stroke the tripping flange 93 mounted in any suitablemanner in the end plate 56, is engaged by a finger 94 which is pivotedat95 on the lower end of the valve block 87; "This finger is normallyspring pressed towards the piston-rod bymeans ofa spring 96 which issuitably fixed to a stud 97 on the'lower end of the cross member 77.;This cross member 77 has a Camsurface 98 adapted to engage with acorresponding cam'surface 99 on the finger 94 to cam the fingeroutwardly as the piston. continues to f movejtoward the end of itsstroke towards the valves. Assuming the partsme'in e position shown inFig. 4,

further downward movement of the piston 73towa-rdsthe valves cantakeplace, but. the finger I 94 at this time has just engaged againstthe. flange 93 to prevent further 9 movement of. the valve rod and valveplate towards the'valves while the piston con-,

tinues in its downward movement. The valve block 87 thus remainsstationary and the spring 89 is compressed and placed under tension.lrVhen' the cam surface 98 has traversed to the cam surface 99 onthefinger it presses the finger outwardly, about its pivot 95 against thetensionof the spring 96. This motion of the finger, inwithdrawing itsend p closing of the exhaust valve.- The fiowof r from engagement withthe flange 93, releases withthevalves to reverse their positioning,-

these parts moving through a considerable distance to effect theoperation of the intake and exhaust valves to cause the complete openingof the inlet valve and the complete Water is thus directedinto'thecylinder por tion-53 and acts to push the piston outwardly, the otherpiston 83' in the meantime being moved inwardly on the exhaust stroke,and in turn'this piston willoperate the intake and exhaust valves of thecylinder bynieans of the spring-pressed valve plate *100 which issimilar in" construction and operation to the V As thecylinder bodyportion of the motor is fixed in a horizontalposition, in operation, theval'velmembers 66 and 67 would have no tendency to move fromthepositions to which they have been adjusted by the spring; pressed valveplates until they; are again ,moved bythe other valveplate, andvthewater pressure effectivelyholds the valvesin their adjusted positions.The flow of water is supplied first to, one cylinder and then:

- to the other, thewater being exhausted from one cylinder as it issupplied'to the other so that the fluid motor causes aperiodic re-'ciprocation of the. straps 79 and 80 and the other portions of thereciprocating device-,-

which is connected as previously set forth to cause theswinging; orrotational oscillation of the" distributing pipe 20.- By reason ofstrokeand at. that time the valves are instantaneously moved to causethe complete 7 opening or closing of thepassages'communi eating with theinlet or outlet chambers of the motor, and freedom fronr theobjectionable fsticking? or failure to operate results.

. appended claiins.= 7 corresponding part ofthe opposite cylinder.

It Will now be clear that an irrigation sys tem has been provided inwhich a distributing pipe is oscillated'back and forth by. amotor whichdoes not swing with the pipe. Consequently the Weight of the motoritself does 7 not form any part of the load drivenby the motor. Where amotor is fixed to the distrib uting pipeiand' oscillatesfwith it part ofthe effort produced'by the motor is needed to overcome the unbalancedweight of the mo tor, and this objection is thus'obviated in the presentdevice. The motor employed is one whichiis capable of developing alargeamount of power while'utilizingonly a comparatively small'partzof thewater'fiowing through the system. Theamount of water, exhausted I vfromthe motor is therefore. comparatively small'and due to the manner-injwhichthe discharge from the motor is swung constantly'from one side ofthe pipe to the other any puddling on. the ground is prevented, and; theexhaust water from the motor'is efficientlydistributed and utilized forirrigational. purposes. The amount of water utilized by the motor beingsmall and constituting only a small part of the Water supplied to thesystern permitsthe distribution of water from the, spraying pipefwithoutobjectional re-' .While the form of apparatus-herein ascribedconstitutesa preferred embodiment j of the inventiomit is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to this precise fOIIDIOf apparatus, andthatchanges may be made .thereinwithout departing fromthe scope of theinvention which isdefinedinthe What is claimedis: i

1. In an irrigation system of the class described, a distributing pipe,a waterf notor mounted in fixed; position adjacent thereto,

a leverage-multiplying connection between. said motor ands'aid pipewhereby the pipe is 'means duringthe operation of the same. 9

" 2. In an irrigation system; of the class de scribed, a distributingpipe, a water motor. mounted in. fixed positionjadjacentthereto,

a leverage-multiplying connection between said motorand said pipewhereby the-pipe is oscillated by-the Water motor, an exhaust nozzle forsaid motor, andmeans for osciI- i latingsaid nozzle during the operationof thewater motor. 1

1 3. In an irrigationsysteimor the Iikecomprising a member to beoscillated, an autoniatic oscillator comprising a fluid motor, I

means for mounting said motor in fixed posi- Itioni,means'reciprocally;operated by said 1110-- tor, an operatingconnection between said last means and a'load whereby "the latter iscaused tor, and an operating connection between said discharge nozzleand said reciprocating means to cause movement of the nozzle for thedistribution of the discharge fluid from the motor.

4. In a device of the class described, a distributing pipe, a fluidmotor mounted in fixed position adjacent thereto, and a ratchetconnection between said motor and said pipe for causing the oscillationof the pipe, and a backlash attachment associated with said ratchetconnect-ion. to prevent backlash twist of the pipe from interfering withthe operation of the ratchet connection.

5. In a device of the class described, an oscillator having provisionfor its attachment to a distributing pipe for causing the oscillation ofthe pipe comprising a water motor, means supporting said motor in fixedposition. a reciprocating member operated by said motor, a ratchetsegment cooperating with said reciprocating member moved step by step bysaid reciprocating member, and a yielding locking device for yieldinglyconnecting said segment to said water motor to prevent backlash twist ofthe distributing pipe from interfering with reversal of the direction ofmovement of said pipe.

6. In an irrigation system, a water motor having a stationary cylinder,a piston reciprocally operable therein, a reversible ratchet leveroperated by said piston, a member having a single series of teethoperated slowly step by step by said lever, a distributing pipeconnected to said member, and means for automatically reversing theratchet after a predetermined movement of the said member.

7. In an irrigation system, a water motor having a stationary cylinder,a piston reciprocally operable therein, a reversible ratchet leveroperated by said piston, a member operated by said lever, a distributingpipe connected to said member, and means for automatically reversing theratchet after a predetermined movement of the said member, said meanscomprising adjustable pins with which the lever engagesat predeterminedpositions of the said member.

8. In an irrigation system of the class described. a distributing pipe,a water motor mounted in fixed position adjacent thereto, a connectionbetween said motor and said pipe whereby the pipe is oscillated by thewater motor, an exhaust nozzle for said water motor, and means foroscillating said nozzle during the operation of the water motor.

9. In a device of the class described, a distributing pipe adapted to beoscillated about its longitudinal axis, a water motor for oscillatingsaid distributing pipe, a single ratchet connection operated by saidwater motor for causing step by step movements of said distributingpipe, and a backlash attachment to prevent backlash twist of the pipefrom interfering with the operation of the ratchet connection andcomprising a spring pressed member for yieldingly holding saiddistributing pipe. g 4

10. In a device of the class described, an

oscillator adapted to be attached to a disk tributing pipe for causingthe oscillation of V the pipe, comprising a water motor, meanssupporting said motor in fixed position, a reciprocating member operatedby said motor, a single ratchet pawl connected to said reciprocatingmember, a'single ratchet segment adapted to be moved step by step bysaid ratchet pawl, and a backlash attachment associated with saidsegment to connect said segment to said water motor to prevent backlashtwist of the distributing pipe from intertering with the operation ofthe pawl.

In testimony whereof we hereto aflix our signatures.

WALTER H. COLES. BERT J. NELSON.

